Photos of Protest Day 24th Nov.2008

District President AASAA Prodeep Nag

Guests in the meeting

Dance Group

homage to the martyr

Welcoming Guest. Mr.Justin Lakhra

Adivasi News Nov.2008

Adivasi Rights Day at Udalguri (24th Nov.2008)

A protest rally was held at Udalguri Town today. Mr.Akila Purti presided over the open protest meeting where Mr.Justin Lakhra (President of AASAA) and Mr.Wilfred Topno(President of Adivasi Sahitya Sabha ) were invited as the chief guests. Mr.Rohin Daimari (PHE minister,Govt.Assam) and many AASAA leader including Mr.Philimon Baskey (President Adivais Council ) ,Mr.Santosh Kujur (BTAD Member )and Mr.Isdor Nag also present in the protest meeting. There were heavy security

arrangement in the meeting premises and the procession was not allowed by the district administration,The meeting protested against the killing and torturing of adivasis on 24th Nove.2007 and demanded CBI enquiry. Meeting also warned govt. for delaying scheduling of adivasis will lead to strong agitation.



AASAA stand on Beltola riots

City reporter

GUWAHATI, Nov 22 – The All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) has announced that it would observe November 24 as ‘Adivasi Rights Day’ protesting the ‘Beltola incident’ that had occurred on that day in 2007. Last year, on the same date a procession by the association culminated in a clash between the agitators and residents of the area. Trouble began when some people who were allegedly among the protestors, went on the rampage, damaging shops and cars, thus inviting retaliation from the residents.Stressing that the failure of the police and district administration led to the violent incident, the AASAA has alleged that the incident might be an attempt of the State Government to suppress the demand for ST status to the Adivasi community. In a press statement, AASAA publicity secretary Jiten Lakra stated that the reports of Manisana commission and Verma commission were also in the possession of the government.“Despite all its promises during the elections, the problems of Adivasi people of the State were not properly addressed. Our people are always used as vote banks by all political parties, without caring for their problems,” added the statement. “All the Adivasis in every district of the State would lodge their protest by organizing protest meetings. In the memory of Samson Laguri, who lost his life in the violence, and other 219 people who were injured, 220 earthen lamps would be lit in the evening at all the protest venues. The gathering would also pray for the eternal peace of the people, who lost their lives in the serial bomb blasts in the State on October 30 this year,” it mentioned.

AUDF in a fix over Lakshmi
A STAFF REPORTER
Lakshmi has produced a birth certificate to buttress her claim of being 25 — the minimum age required to contest parliamentary elections.
What is more embarrassing for the AUDF is the fact that the Jharkhand Disom Party, which had played an important role in mobilising support against the Beltola violence, had earlier this year rejected Orang’s plea for a party ticket because of her age and advised her to continue her studies. The JDP, however, gave her a party membership.
“She even stayed at the house of our national chairman Salkhan Murmu in Ranchi for a month and worked for the party there in April this year,” the president of the Assam unit of the JDP, Junas Murmu, said. He added that his party had asked Lakshmi to wait till she attained the requisite age to contest the election.
Apart from the age factor, the JDP also wanted Lakshmi, who unsuccessfully appeared for her matriculation examination this year, to continue her education, Murmu said.
The All Adivasi Students Association of Assam also raised eyebrows over the AUDF’s plan to push Lakshmi into electoral politics.
The tribal girl had come to Beltola on November 24 last year to take part in the rally organised by the association to demand Scheduled Tribe status for Adivasis/Tea tribes.
The association’s vice-president, David Horo, insisted that Lakshmi was not eligible to contest the election and should concentrate on her studies.
Dismissing the “underage” charge, Lakshmi today said over phone, “How can others be so sure of my age? Only my parents can tell me my real age.” She said she was born on August 10, 1983 and had a birth certificate to prove her age.
“I have decided to join politics to serve the people and to ensure that no woman is victimised in our society in future,” she said.
AUDF president Badruddin Ajmal tried to play down the age controversy and said his party would go by the birth certificate provided by Lakshmi.
He said his party was considering giving her a ticket for the Tezpur parliamentary seat on the basis of the birth certificate furnished by her.
“If the Election Commission rejects her nomination on the ground of being underage, then we will abide by its decision. After all, we have to follow the Constitution,” he said.
AUDF working president Hafiz Rashid Choudhury, however, has asked the party’s Tezpur unit to send Lakshmi’s birth certificate to him.

Victim of Beltola violence entering politics creates storm

Guwahati, Nov 20: The fielding of the young adivasi woman, who was stripped naked by a mob on November 24 last year during a rally in Beltola here, as a probable candidate for the Lok Sabha elections has drawn flak from a group of organisations. All Tea Tribes Students Association President Pallab Lochan said that Laxmi Orang did not consult the student organisations before deciding to join politics as they fought her case after the incident. He warned the Assam United Democratic Front that has been approached for a ticket, not to exploit the sentimental issue of the tea tribes and adivasis of Assam. However, All Adivasi Students Association of Assam President Justin Lakra expressed ignorance about Laxmi joining the AUDF and said the association would decide later about supporting her during the polls. Assam Tea Tribe Welfare Minister Prithvi Majhi said that fielding her as a contestant was tantamount to stripping her again in public. AUDF office-bearers, however, maintained that Orang had approached the party seeking a Lok Sabha ticket and gave her an assurance to nominate her if a suitable candidate was not found for the Tezpur seat. Meanwhile, Laxmi's village Jopowbari Orang basti near Sonitpur district was jubilant at her decision and exuded confident that she would be able to work for her community and others through politics.
New Delhi: A tribal girl in Guwahati who was stripped by hoodlums about a year ago, has decided to contest the next parliamentary polls from Tezpur in Assam.
Last year, Lakshmi Oraon felt her dignity being stripped off as she fought off the local goons.
This year she has joined the Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) along with her family and will contest on the its ticket.
The AUDF is a political party that was floated to take on the Congress before the 2006 assembly election in the state. With Lakshmi's candidature, the AUDF hopes to make inroads into some 20 lakh tea garden workers in the state, which is a sizeable chunk by any measure.
Lakshmi was abused while participating in a demonstration by All Assam Adivasi Students Association in November 2007.

Lakshmi Oraon
New Delhi: A tribal girl in Guwahati who was stripped by hoodlums about a year ago, has decided to contest the next parliamentary polls from Tezpur in Assam.
Last year, Lakshmi Oraon felt her dignity being stripped off as she fought off the local goons.
This year she has joined the Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) along with her family and will contest on the its ticket.
The AUDF is a political party that was floated to take on the Congress before the 2006 assembly election in the state. With Lakshmi's candidature, the AUDF hopes to make inroads into some 20 lakh tea garden workers in the state, which is a sizeable chunk by any measure.
Lakshmi was abused while participating in a demonstration by All Assam Adivasi Students Association in November 2007.